Brandon Phillips Blocked November Trade To Braves

JAN. 6:Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM cites a Reds source in reporting that there’s still a possibility of a trade that would send Phillips to Atlanta, with the Reds picking up the majority of the money that remains on the contract. He adds, though, that Reds executives “acknowledge that they made promises and assurances to Phillips that they are not living up to” and will need to work through those issues with Phillips before a deal. Moving Phillips would allow the Reds to clear an easier path to playing time for Jose Peraza and potentially for Dilson Herrera as well.

While Phillips is a Georgia native who (per Rosenthal) owns a home in Atlanta, he still wasn’t amenable to the move. There was no discussion of an extension this time around, according to the report; the Braves would not have been interested, and Phillips made his view clear before that subject was even broached.

This latest episode raises the question whether the 35-year-old Phillips will ever be a movable asset for Cincinnati, which had been set to retain “a significant portion” of his $14MM salary as part of the proposed trade. He’s in the final year of his contract, and it seems all but inevitable that he’ll land elsewhere after the 2017 season. But Phillips is still holding firm on his desire to remain in Cincinnati as something of a “matter of principle,” per Rosenthal, who says that Phillips would only be willing to sign onto a deal if “certain, unspecified issues” are dealt with by any acquiring team.

While Phillips is more than entitled to utilize the no-trade clause (which he earned through ten-and-five rights) in whatever manner he chooses, it’s certainly something of an odd situation. The Reds have a variety of young infielders they’d surely like to expose more to the majors in the coming year, which could bite into Phillips’s own playing time.

Long a productive regular who combined excellent glovework with solid overall offensive production, Phillips has declined of late. Since the start of the 2014 season, he has slashed .285/.319/.396, which amounts to slightly below-average (94 OPS+) work at the plate. Phillips has returned to running more, though his 14 stolen bases in 2016 came at the cost of being caught on eight other attempts. And he’s still good for about a dozen home runs per year. The most concerning change, perhaps, comes on the defensive side. Phillips has long rated as a well-above-average defender at second, but took a bit of a step back in 2015 and drew negative metrics in his most recent season.

Still, Phillips would represent a steadying presence in the right organization — particularly, one that has taken a positive view through recent scouting assessments. If he can bounce back in the field, there’s reason to hope that he could put up a season worthy of regular play despite the fact that he was worth less than one win above replacement last year. A right-handed hitter, Phillips has never carried drastic platoon splits and actually fared better against same-handed pitching in 2016.

Though it’s still theoretically possible that the sides could revisit a deal, Rosenthal says that’s not seen as a likely scenario. When Rodriguez inked his deal in late November, that added a second-base-capable, right-handed bat and perhaps absorbed some of the salary that might have been allocated to Phillips.

“We explore a myriad of trade opportunities,” Braves GM John Coppolella tells MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, “some which make more progress than others, and some which get more media attention than others. Trades aren’t done until they are done.”

That being said, it’s still imaginable that Atlanta will consider moving to bolster its mix at second and third base. Rodriguez has experience at both spots, creating some flexibility. But it’s far from clear that Adonis Garcia will be a worthwhile semi-regular at the hot corner. The left-handed-hitting Jace Peterson is also on hand, of course, and perhaps top prospect Ozzie Albies will be ready sooner than later, but the Braves have already made several 2017-centric moves, attempting to improve the near-term outlook without sacrificing the future.

If Atlanta does take a look at adding another infielder, there are any number of trade targets that it could pursue. And the open market still features a variety of second and third basemen that might conceivably be of interest. That includes righty hitters such as Aaron Hill and Trevor Plouffe, as well as lefty bats like Luis Valbuena, Chase Utley, Stephen Drew, Chris Coghlan, and — of course — perennial favorite Kelly Johnson.

*An earlier version of this post incorrectly suggested that Phillips’s decision was influenced by the signing of Rodriguez.

Yeah I know, right? I mean God forbid that we Braves fans get to be entertained, watching one of the very best 2nd baseman in baseball on a regular basis during the 2017 (and beyond) season. Especially since even the most optimistic fan of us all, if he or she was being honest with themselves realizes that this upcoming season is going to be much like last year in terms of the Braves overall record. Oh well, with Phillips or not, here is hoping for the best in 17′ . Go Braves !!!

Why is ’17 going to be like last year? a) no Fredi Gonzalez, b) not giving so many innings to rookie pitchers (i.e. Wisler, Folty, Williams Perez, Blair, etc.) and instead giving them to inning eaters and proven vets, c) full years (injuries notwithstanding) of Inciarte, Kemp, Swanson, d) while no more Erick Aybar, AJ Pierzynski and countless members of last years bullpen.

Before the AS Break in 2016, they had the worst start in franchise history followed by .500 after. Take in mind I’m a Braves fan, but I can see an improvement of plus-15 to 17 games already optimistically speaking.

That’s too bold, if you look at our team and the expected WAR we are looking at 74-80 wins tops. Kemp and Markakis are gonna be worth maybe 1-2 WAR together, 3b is a hole, our rotation, while better , is still not good enough to make us more than a team fighting for .500

That is exactly the way I see it shaking down to, b4e’. Except I would only add that unless the powers that be really give Albies the chance to earn his stripes at 2nd, that spot will still be holier than Swiss cheese, as well. So with that possibly being an issue yet again, I can honestly only see an 5 to 8 game improvement in the win column for ‘our’ team in 17′. Again, hoping I am dead wrong, but only time will tell. Go Braves !!!

Why wouldnt braves fans want Bp? I cant answer for all other fans but for myself if Bp does not want to be in atlanta then we also would not want an unhappy player and moody player. This is especially true as a player in that situation might be detrimental to the younger players.

Both teams will be bad. He thinks he is better than he is (he always has) and wants to be rewarded for waiving the no trade clause by being given an extension. It’s the Reds fault for paying big money to a 2B. I get it if it was Chase Utley in his prime but Phillips? Horrible contract by the Reds.

Don’t be so sure. ATL is further along in the rebuild than CIN which is still in the midst of shedding salaries, which will be difficult with Phillips, Homer Bailey and Votto (even if Votto was interested in playing somewhere else). ATL has future pieces with many extended to nice deals, while in need of filling in holes, and that’s before many of the pitching assets fully-maturing yet, which could jumpstart the process and possibly provide more trade assets. There’s arguably no “bad” contracts going into 2 offseasons deep in free agents. They’re in a good place with a lot of room to grow.

Brewers are farther along than either the Braves or the Reds, but between the Reds and the Braves, I’ll take the Reds. I’m not seeing it with the Braves. Reds being stuck with Votto is a good thing until they’ll need some funds to extend players which they aren’t close to. He’s arguably one of the top 2-3 hitters of this generation. No reason he won’t be productive the next 3-4 years at least.

He only has the right to veto a trade because of the 10-5 rights. If he accepted the trade to Atlanta, he’d have no control over where he goes mid-season if he was on the block then. Given he is a rental and it was a trade to a (probably) non-contending team, there was a good chance it would mean he would switch organizations twice in what would be less than a year, a situation he might like to avoid.

If he lives in Georgia, why not waive it? It’s not like Cincinatti is any closer to competing than Atlanta. Atlanta could at least have an outside chance at competing for a wild card spot, Cincy does not.

That was the thought last year when they tried to move him. He believes he is still a starter and he only wants to move for an extension AND significant playing time. I hope he gets played part-time this year and maybe he will be more open to leaving.

should call up Barry Larkin and ask him what cincy did when he kept blocking a trade.
they low balled Larkin after the season & pretty much ran him out of town!!!!!!
Brandon Phillips will have same outcome. shame!!!!!

Which led to the reds extending Larkin. Had no issues with that. Rather have had a few years of a lesser Larkin then the bust they’d have gotten from mets. Like votto now it would have been tough seeing Larkin in another uniform.

Phillips won’t get paid big after the season, regardless. No “running out of town” necessary. I’m sure Phillips is 100% positive he won’t be back in Cincy next year. If they are trying to trade him now to get younger, in what world would they ever sign him after the year?

Phillips is likely done with the reds this year outside of some bench roll contract later down the line. It is likely he is after no trade protection for the remainder of the season why accept a deal now only to be traded later to a place you don’t want to go. Atlanta likely looking for filpable assets like colon and dickey. So they can add to young assets

Larkin was run out of town? Interesting, because he retired as a Red at age 40. Almost immediately after Larkin blocked the trade to the Mets, he got a three year / $27 million extension from Cincinnati. Hardly a low ball contract at the time. In fact, it was just $900,000 less than the extension he was looking for from New York in order to accept the trade.

tsolid……..He does, but it will screw up his attempt to get a good chunk of money afterwards………stats are key for contract negotiations today……..if your stats suck (regardless of playing time)……the financials will suffer. Don’t you think?

So sitting him, pinch hitting him, playing him sparingly……All Hurt His Future Contract

He’ll see that and want to go somewhere that he can start and build up some stats in 2017. It’s manipulation, at best…..but it should be effective.

Not denying that Phillips is a good player and he earned his right to block a trade but definitely don’t need a player that doesn’t want to be there and I am fine with using Rodriguez at 2b until Ozzie is ready and healed and then we have the option to use Rodriguez as a super utility or every day 3b if he is playing better than Garcia

Well, if there was a trade AFTER Sean Rodriguez was signed, I wonder what ATL was thinking. Phillips would be the short-term 2B bridge to Albies, utilizing Rodriguez as the platoon 3B vs. LHP, while spelling other positions including 1B/2B/SS/OF.

I still think that’s the thought process, though the difference is that he might see more time at 2B if Jace Peterson doesn’t continue to mature. I think they were hoping that Rodriguez would be more of a super-utility role and not need so much time at 2B.

Phillips is better than Peterson at 2B? The last time Peterson spent reg time at 2B (144 games) in 2015 he compiled a 0.2 dWAR, while Phillips -0.5 dWAR in 2016. Considering Peterson was a 1.3 oWAR in 2016 compared to Phillips’ 1.5 oWAR, I’d rather take my chances on regular time at 2B between Peterson/Sean Rodriguez (or another FA) making way for Albies possibly late-2017 than Phillips and his $13 million contract (presuming that CIN would eat some of his contract if traded).

Oh, I’m sorry, i didn’t realize that spending 87 of your 115 games at second base wasn’t regular time. That’s 76% of the time. Silly me. Peterson’s wRC+ was 3 better than phillips and his Def was 8.5 lower.

That being said, ATL has had a good track record of revitalizing waning careers, and it would have been interesting to have seen him play in front of a home crowd, but he knows better than the Braves. Glad he blocked the deal honestly. Good luck to him. I don’t think he would have better stats in CIN. ATL doesn’t have Votto, but we do have Freeman, Swanson, Inciarte, Kemp, Markakis and others that could use his leadership and give him ample opportunities to pad stats that could earn additional millions in AAV later on.

Personally, I think the Reds should make him “Ride the Pine” until he gets sick of wasting his days away……and BEGS for a trade. Play him when the game is out of hand, and that’s it. Make him sorry that he vetoed that trade to the Nats last year.

I agree that “the kids need to play”………and that they should find a way to get rid of him…..

If he is released then the Reds pay all of the salary and he is free to go to any team on a minimum contract. That would be beat case scenario for any team that wants him. If teams are willing to trade for him and pay a good chunk of his salary then there is a market out there for him.

Nobody here is disputing that. The Team is trying to do that. The only way they can do that without his consent, is to release him…..and pay his salary anyway…………………….Then he’ll be signed by another team,

Because……..there’s ALREADY a market for him…….HE is the one who keeps blocking trades. Several times in the last 2-3 years.

I guess you are so down on Phillips that you can’t see that there’s “Plenty Of Value In Brandon Phillips”…..when he only costs “A Cool 1/2 million dollars for a year of service!!!”……..

3 straight seasons of 12 or less (one he missed time, but was well off a 15 hr pace).

He’s pretty much a lock for 10-12 homers with a manageable batting average, and would still pick up 10-15 stolen bases.

Still a great deal, but he’s in a nice hitters park as is, I wouldn’t expect his numbers to really get better anywhere he goes. I imagine the decline with age would counter and offensive gain to any ballpark.

Reds are rebuilding he knows that they tried to find places for him to go and still get his money and he so conceited he won’t accept anything. Loser. I live in Cincinnati I watch every game this guy is not a team player

Conceited? Maybe he doesn’t want to move his family and is comfortable in Cincinnati. Have you ever though of that? The guy has the right to veto any trade, he is doing nothing wrong. You are an irrational fan that doesn’t seem to understand that players are people and not characters on a video game that only play baseball. Suck it up Buttercup!

sorry jcraft1, but your wrong. There is no doubt someone would sign him. Even if he’s a pain, he does a lot in the community for cincy and fans love him. He’s not a bad option off the bench and there’s no question there’s teams willing to sign him

Yes, but then he’s looking at three cities in no more than four years. Reds to acquiring team, then QO, and he stays for one, or no QO and he goes to another city. Maybe he’s thinking he waits it out one year in Cinncy, and since they are unlikely to want him back, he gets to pick the next team free of impediments.

Phillips is a FA after next season. He has a better chance to get a decent contract offer playing with the Reds, than the Braves. Considering a pop up in Cincinnati goes for a homer. In Atlanta a ball can be squared up, and only be a line out.

I can understand him blocking this. He’s on the last year of his contract and chooses to play in Cincy. Once he’s traded, he could very easily find himself traded somewhere else at mid season. He only has a no trade because of his 10/5. Once he waives that he can be traded anywhere. It’s understandable he doesn’t want that to happen.

He probably asked the Braves to guarantee for two things. 1) That he wouldn’t be traded during the season. 2) Guarantee 550 AB’s. They said No, so he said No. That is a right he has earned when he crossed the 5/10 threshold. He is protecting his own interests. Which one of us would not do the same thing? Bottom line; It is a business.

B Philips was one of my favorite players to watch in his prime. Great swagger for the small market cincy. Part of a strong core they had and unfortunately they thought it they were all super stars and signed them accordingly, Bruce, Votto, Bailey….it’s a shame it had to be like this but even though it’s time to move on I bet he changes his mind come the trade deadline. Well with in his power to veto but the fans want to see him as the competitor who wants to win not a negotiator looking out for himself.

As a Braves fan, I actually want Brandon Phillips to happen. Next, Coppy would sign Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore to incentive-laden deals so he could revisit one of the most famous trades in MLB history, already having signed Bartolo Colon.

Phillips loves cincy. Has always attended the pre season parades has always signed autographs and been a big part of the fan base. I don’t know why everyone is bashing him for wanting to stay where he loves. Probably wouldn’t be a starter for a contender so why not stay where he loves. No one questions Votto wanting to stay so what’s the difference? If your boss wanted to shift you across the country you’d want some incentive to go wouldn’t you? He’s earned his rights and why shouldn’t he invoke them?

You cannot even say “Votto” and “Phillips” in the same sentence………Can You???….lol

Getting traded, when there are young players who “need to play”….. is simply part of the game (and part of the business). Phillips time in Cincy is over……..whether he likes it or not. He’s handcuffed the Reds by rejecting several trades over the last few years. He’s made plenty of money in his career……..and if traded, he’d continue to get his exorbitant salary. I think he’s just being stupid, because he shouldn’t want to stay on a team that doesn’t want him anymore. I hope they make him a bench player, using him to pinch-hit, and sub into blowouts.

He already owns a house in Atlanta, and he has ties there…..so your “shift across the country” statement is probably moot.

In the past few days of MLB Network I’ve watched many people rip the Joey Votto deal and other such contracts and then talk about how Andrew McCutchen is the face of franchise and how could the Pirates let him go?

Well, which is it?

Pirates are doing the right thing. Let other people pay for a guy’s thirties.

The reason they RIP Cincy is………..those contracts don’t match up when you consider the difference in production. Bucs signed a great extension…….in both money and years. Reds messed up, badly, paying Votto too much for way too long.

Bucs aren’t going to “make that same mistake”. Their fans need to understand that, IF Cutch would sign an affordable extension, the Bucs might keep him…….But….he will probably get a relatively big contract somewhere else……even if it’s “the wrong thing to do”. He’s still a productive player…..and will be for several years, but teams should learn from “other team’s mistakes”……..

Exactly. I’m amazed that smart baseball people still think Phillips is worth much. It’s an empty batting average. Stealing 14 bases in 22 tries is a net loss. He drew 15 walks last season. (Not counting the IBB). The defense has declined rapidly. Plus, he’s kind of a PITA. Remember when he called a Reds beat writer a fat (expletive) because that writer dared to challenge Phillips’ approach in a column? Phillips just isn’t an asset anymore. He’s near the end.

He doesn’t walk much but his strike out rate is also very low. Taking his stats together the picture is of a good contact hitter. Defensive metrics, I really do not trust. They wobble way too much. Either way, for sure Phillips is much closer to the end than the beginning. On a one-year basis I would not mind him filling the Dodgers’ 2B needs, but it seems he’s pursing an extension in a trade. The Dodgers don’t seem to be making the effort, possibly for that reason. The point about Washington is by passing on Phillips their hand was forced on going after Murphy.

I don’t get into player personalities that much. Most of the stories we hear about them are overblown.

There’s actual video of him doing that to the Reds beat reporter C. Trent Rosencrans (sp?). It was during a press conference. Any defensive metric you want to look at- even just the ones that show how many grounders he gets to – show he’s on the decline. And not striking out is nice, except when you’re a right-handed batter who puts the ball in play a ton…well. You know. Phillips hits into a ton of double plays. Compare to Dozier, who walks more, makes less contact, strikes out more – but makes less outs all around, by not hitting into DPs, for example.

That is like the second or third trade he’s blocked. I’d be so annoyed with him if I was Ciny. Send his ass to triple a. The teams rebuilding, why not help them if you love Cincinnati so much and play your last could years on a contending team.

Maybe they’ve asked, and he said that he wants to stay in Cincy? I’m hoping that the front office is smart enough to know that they can’t force him to accept any deal……….and they are probably just doing their Due-diligence for when they release him…..so they can say that “they tried to trade him.

For the love of god, no. MIN wants top prospects for a 2B under control for only 2 years with some pop. I don’t want to go against Dozier, but to ATL, he’s not worth the top prospects. He’s not the missing link. Our top prospect is 2B, not including one of the fastest ascending prospects (Travis Demeritte) who has spent time there. In the words of the man that made Jesus be born in a farm house: “There’s no more room in the inn”.

The reason I said he was fast ascending is because he’s got as much momentum going into 2017 as just about anyone in the franchise, except Ronald Acuna, because he did so well in the AFL taking home an All-Star nod, considering he’s had above average OBP/SLG for his position, his walks almost outweigh his strikeouts. Yes, he can cut down the strikeouts, but when he leads the league (AFL) in total bases and triples and has above average walks, you really don’t want to jeopardize his extra-base potential. Also, 2016 was his highest season AVG of his short career (.266), even though we all know not to take AVG too seriously (don’t we?) — and that’s not including the incredible defense he showed.

The Reds are trying to develop players. . 2017 is a throw away year as far as contending. Lets see ho Brandon likes sitting on the bench. When he tries to find his next contract, at old infielder with declining skills, a bad attitude, and he hasn’t played in a year.. Good luck with that. Play the kids…..

Let’s see how much of a Jealous fanboy you can be. You think it will matter if they sit him on the bench ALL year?? It would Even show even more how stupid the Reds are. You guys just don’t like the fact that BP holds the upper hand over management as opposed to a piece of Bait

He’s waiting for the dodgers to fail in getting Dozier then ask his agent to form a trade with the dodgers. That’s why he asking the reds to take on more money then it’s a steal for the dodgers which they desperately need. He wants playoffs not some rebuilding project in ATL

“that Reds executives “acknowledge that they made promises and assurances to Phillips that they are not living up to””

Phillips isn’t a clown, a jerk or anything like that. He loves Cincinnati, loves the Reds and the Reds management promised him something and didn’t deliver. Baseball is a business and Brandon is taking care of his business and family as he should.

My guess, as has been mentioned, is that he doesn’t want to get traded in mid-season without him approving it or some sort of compensation. If that is true it makes a lot of sense.

This report is so vague. No one has any idea why BP rejected the first trade or what he wants in exchange for accepting a trade? And no one knows what it is the Reds are referring to in their vague statement about promises to BP?

Him blocking trades should never happen, if Cincy talked to him about what he would want to waiver his no trade clause before they talk to other clubs about a trade. If he didn’t want to be traded, period. Then Cincy only has three choices. Let him play out his contract, bench him or release him. We shouldn’t even hear about it until one of those happened. If a player has 10/5 rights and vetoed one trade, what makes you say he won’t do it again? It’s his right.

Not sure why there is the backlash on this as Phillips would be a one year upgrade at 2B and gives clubhouse leadership to a young team. His numbers are good and he could be a deadline deal candidate or stay on a friendlier extension. Got to have faith in Hart’s plan…

Exactly… either the Reds management is full of idiots who orchestrate a trade without the players consent when the player is most likely to block the trade OR Brandon Phillips tells them he is willing to be traded and changes his mind at the last minute. A third option might also be that Phillips is open to a trade if the team that acquires him is willing to also offer an extension and maybe the Phillips “camp” can’t agree to terms of extension after the trade is arranged and then blocks it. That is the only thing that makes sense to me- 3rd option.

Reds just need to eat his salary and give him his unconditional release. He’s blocking younger players’ development. Yeah, he’s a fan favorite, but so was Joe Morgan, and they traded him. Time for the Reds to move on from Phillips any way they can.

I’m not sure why the Reds even thought he wouldn’t block a trade to the Braves. Just because he has a home in Georgia does not mean he would rather play for the Braves than the Nats who he blocked last year. The Reds should just sit his butt on the bench if he is delaying the progress of a younger second baseman. I don’t see how this guy could still be a fan favorite after blocking the progress of the team more than once.

Has anyone just considered how much it sucks to move? I moved last August and hated every second of it…if he gets traded now he faces the potential of being dealt again at the deadline and then will be a free agent after the season…that could be 3 moves in a year…not ideal if you ask me

If that outweighs the possibility to win – not in Atlanta obviously but he did block a trade to Nationals – well then that says a lot about you as a competitor. He’s not respected by many baseball ppl outside of his close inner circle.

Pick up L.Valbuena and Trade Cubs for Schwarber(as he now wants to be a catcher again. ) TradeGohara,Muller,Pace and Cumberland for Schwarber(who can platoon with Flowers this year,could also spell Kemp.